Oklahoma State standout James Anderson has been named Big 12 Player of the Year and leads the 2010 edition of the All-Big 12 Men's Basketball honors, it was announced. Cole Aldrich (Kansas) earned Defensive Player of the Year recognition for the second straight season, while Ekpe Udoh (Baylor) is the top newcomer. Alec Burks (Colorado) is the Freshman of the Year, while Jamar Samuels (Kansas State) earns the Sixth Man Award. Samuels’ coach, Frank Martin, is the Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Anderson, a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team choice, led the Big 12 in scoring with 22.9 points per game. He averaged 24.1 points in conference play, the fifth-best scoring mark in league history. He had five 30-point outings - the most of any player in the Big 12 - and has scored 25 points or more 17 times. He is the second Oklahoma State student-athlete to garner player honors, following Tony Allen in 2003-04.

Aldrich wins defensive recognition after sharing the honor a year ago. The junior center finished second overall in the Conference with 110 blocks, including 54 in league action. He was a key component on a Jayhawk squad that led the Big 12 and ranked third nationally in field goal percentage defense by holding opponents to 37.7 percent shooting from the floor.

Udoh had a dominating season in his debut year at Baylor by setting a Big 12 single-season record for blocks with 123. The junior rejected 57 in league play, also a season mark. He had 16 games with 10 rebounds or more, including a 20-rebound effort at South Carolina in December. Udoh finished tied for second in the Big 12 with 13 double-doubles and was also second overall with 9.8 rebounds per game. He is the first Baylor player in Big 12 history to earn top newcomer accolades.

Burks is the first Colorado athlete to be named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The guard is the top-scoring freshman in the league, ranking seventh overall with 16.8 points per game. He also led the conference in field goal shooting, connecting at a .536 mark in 29 contests. His scoring and field goal percentage numbers are fourth nationally among all freshmen.

Samuels gave his team a spark off the bench in 29 of 30 games, finishing tied for third on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game. The sophomore forward was a non-starter in all 16 league outings, averaging 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, while shooting 54.9 percent. The sixth man honor gives KSU the award in two of the four seasons it has been presented (Cartier Martin, 2006-07).

Martin led his team to one of the best seasons in school history, as K-State was ranked as high as No. 5 nationally and earned the No. 2 seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship. The Wildcats finished with a 24-6 record, including 11-5 in league play. The team’s overall and conference win totals are its most since the 1987-88 campaign. Included in that total were seven road victories, the most for KSU in the Big 12 era.

The All-Big 12 First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention teams were also announced, while conference coaches also selected All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams. Aldrich and teammate Sherron Collins were repeat selections on the first team, while Clemente was on the second team for the second straight season. Aldrich and J.T. Tiller (Missouri) were holdovers from last year’s defensive squad.

The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
James Anderson, Oklahoma State, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Junction City, Ark./Junction City